Hushed Willows Every day I've got a smile where my frown goes

Reverie went still. She felt she knew who Mae was talking about — who else could it be but the girl's father? And now she was caught in her own anger, her own bitterness. Akavir had thought her an irresponsible mother, once. He'd cast judgment on her for it, alienated her from the pack, and that final betrayal — sending that healer, when he knew, he knew how she felt about it.

And he hadn't even asked after Lestan when she'd seen him. Lestan, his cousin, his family, who had loved him so dearly and who had been devastated by his rejection. Nor had he asked after Blossom, whose safety he'd once been so concerned with that he'd hated Reverie for it. Akavir thought her careless, but it was he who left a trail of neglected and shattered love in his wake. Reverie knew that she'd made mistakes, but had she not always acted with love in her heart? And where was the love in this? Family forgotten, a child abandoned...

I know, Reverie finally murmured. I do, too.

You don't have to go back. You can stay with us, if you want. We're making a pack. We're calling it Hearthwood, She smoothed Mae's ears with a paw. You'll be safe here. Loved. I promise.